As part of the Resources and Waste strategy, the government is currently consulting on how to improve consistency in recycling collections. The government hopes that by making collections nationally consistent it will reduce residual waste and drive up the quantity and quality of what can be recycled.
The consultation is expected to be published in spring 2021 (see letsrecycle.com story). Any changes will be legislated through the Environment Bill, royal assent for which is now expected in the autumn.
Of 552 councillors surveyed by YouGov, 71% believe the introduction of consistency in waste and recycling collections in England would result in additional costs or chargeable services for residents.
The polling agency also identified the top concerns of the councillors who responded to their survey to be resident confusion and how to manage housing differences.
Standardising collections
YouGov’s research found that while councillors were positive overall about the waste and recycling proposals, a significant minority (27%) did not believe that standardising collections would boost recycling.
Just more than half (52%) of the councillors who responded said they believed standardising collections would increase recycling rates in their area.
Almost three quarters (73%) of the councillors were confident that their local authority would meet government targets and recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035.
Poll
Communications consultancy BECG and government relations specialists Cavendish Advocacy commissioned YouGov to undertake an Environment Bill-focused survey of 552 UK councillors in November 2020. The survey was carried out online.
“While councillors are on balance positive about the changes the Environment Bill will bring, there will be challenges on the road to achieving government’s targets”
BECG’s board director Julius Duncan said: “What is clear from these results is that while councillors are on balance positive about the changes the Environment Bill will bring, there will be challenges on the road to achieving government’s targets.
“With the significant majority preparing for additional costs or chargeable services around standardised collections, government will have to consider this additional burden for cash-strapped local authorities whose budgets have been squeezed even further during the pandemic.”
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